Kyrgyzstan: State Committee for National Security summoned journalists of radio “Svoboda” for interrogation

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan called two journalists of radio “Svoboda” Ydyrys Isakov and Muhammedali (Ali) Toktakunov to give evidence on the basis of the journalistic investigation about the withdrawal of $700 million from the Republic.

Correspondents of radio “Svoboda”, Kloop, and OCCRP conducted a joint journalistic investigation, in which they told how money was withdrawn from Kyrgyzstan through corruption schemes over the years; $700 million appears in the materials. According to media reports, high-ranking officials of the Republic are involved in fraud.

Most of the investigation is based on words and documents provided by a Chinese citizen of Uyghur origin Ayerken Saimaiti. According to reporters, on November 15, he was going to give them another package of documents, but did not have time. On the evening of November 10 in Istanbul, he was shot dead by unknown people.

The journalistic investigation caused a wide public outcry. According to the data indicated in the material, pre-trial proceedings were started under the articles 39 “Attempted crime” and 130 of part 1 “Murder” of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.

According to the State Committee, the testimony of Ydyrys Isakov and Muhammedali (Ali) Toktakunov is necessary to investigate the criminal case. However, according to the information of radio “Svoboda”, these journalists are currently abroad and therefore cannot come to the State Committee for National Security. However, they are ready to answer the questions of the State Committee on Skype.

“According to the article 194 “Features of interrogation using technical means in the video communication mode” of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, the participation of persons, who are abroad in investigative actions through Skype or other technical means, does not meet the requirements of this article of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Kyrgyz Republic. In this regard, we ask that the journalists of radio “Svoboda” Ydyrys Isakova and Muhammedali (Ali) Toktakunov arrive at the investigative department of the State Committee for National Security,” the State Committee said.